Flickering Resonance

3.75

PICKMETER

3.82

HMB

3.88

CRITICS

band:

Pelican

release date: May 16, 2025

label: Run for Cover Records

type: Full-length

HMB´S REVIEW

Pelican has always been a solid presence in heavy instrumental music, like a mountain that withstands time and shifting landscapes. Listening to their new album, Flickering Resonance, released on May 16, 2025, felt like traveling back in time, reconnecting with an old friend who has grown wiser, more grounded, and stronger with age.

With over two decades on the road, Pelican has carved out an important legacy in post-metal, with albums like Australasia and City of Echoes leaving a lasting mark on the genre. This new release brings something special: the return of founding member Laurent Schroeder-Lebec. It feels as if a long-lost, precious piece has returned to its place, elegantly closing a circle.

As I immersed myself in Flickering Resonance, what struck me first was the weight, not just in sound, but in emotion. The riffs are as dense as fog in a pine forest, and the instrumental arrangements carry a tension that pulses and morphs throughout the record. It’s not an album that screams, it resonates, like distant thunder you feel in your chest before you ever hear it.

What’s most fascinating is that, despite all its familiarity, the album doesn’t sound tired. On the contrary, it has the soul of something seasoned, shaped by time and scars, now walking with steadier steps. There’s no dramatic reinvention here, but a careful refinement of what the band has always done best. It feels as though Pelican looked back at their own path, understood their core, and rewrote it with maturity.

That balance between what was and what could still be echoes through the entire album. It’s robust, layered, and full of intention. And from what I can tell, I’m not the only one who felt it — the album is being well received by longtime fans and newcomers alike who enjoy atmospheric and heavy instrumental music.

If you’re already a fan of Pelican, you’ll feel right at home. And if you appreciate bands like Isis or Russian Circles, you can dive in without hesitation — Flickering Resonance is an invitation to a sonic journey where weight meets purpose, and experience speaks louder than fleeting trends.

Review by Troadie - HMB´s Staff